Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1887-06-03
The Old Scouts Sacrifice.
By NJ. VICTOR sTALEY.

Say Jack, whence comes that
emoke which rises from behind yonder
hillp"
The question comes from youth who
sands leaning on his rifle beneath the
shade of dense growth of trees
which fringe the edge Of a small stream,
a tributary of the RIO Grandc, in the
Territory of Arizona. The person adj
lressod is Jack Ankerncy, ranchman
and prairie scout He is heavily built
iall and straight as an arrow, a fine
specimen of manhood. On his head
he wears broad sombrero while in
his belt glistons large bowie knife and
The usual brace of reYolvers.
The young man whose query opens
his sketch is Dick Arguson, nephew
Of the old scout but lately arrived on a
visit from the States AS he asks the
question, the scout arises from the
grassy knoll on which he is reclining,
and gazcs in the direction indicated.
Presently he cXclaims. Indians,
Dick, or my name is not Jack Anker-
ney. They must be again on the war;
palh for can swear that is Capt
Raton's ranch. Then more hurriedly
Mount your nag, my boy. we must
ride over and investigate. y
But, as Dick starts to untether the
ponies the old scout again exclaims,
Hold. if am not mistaken, ! behcld
a horseman just descend yonder rise in
the prar,e." T."
Taking a small field glass from pock-
ct in his buckskin blouse, he looks
long and earnestly TO the westward.
1T is as thought. 'Tis Capt Ration,
and how fast he rides, All! he is pur-
sued A band of red rascals press hard
behind, and he is heading straight for
this chaparal. He rides Whip-poor-
" II, the fastest piece of horse-hesh in
this section, and will out-distance them
vet.
Thus the moments fly, Dick and the
old scout anxiously watching the ex-
~ NJ race. On, on, DER the prairie
come the pursuers and pursued, the
distance between Them slowly widen
ing a, Whip-poor-w.ll bears his rider
forward.
'lTa ha, ha!' laughs the scout,
you may as well turn back my red
friends, for your prey is eluding your
grasp.
But, even as he speaks. the noble
an NAL pitches forward and falls heavi-
II 10 the ground. The CAPTAIN leaps
10 his feet and, seeing that his horse is
100 badly injured to be of further SER
Z ce, quickly puts n ball through his
brain to end IFS sufferings. and, tnltl-
ing, speeds on toward the chapara!.
His pursuers, realizing his misfortune,
tn yells of triumph urge their ponies
on with new zeal.
Get your rife, Dick, eXcaims the
scout '9nd we'll give those red
devils warm reception"
Meanwhile the CAPTAIN, now close
enough TO observe that friends are
near. speeds on with renewed courage.
His pursuers, who before seemed
bent on capture. now realizing that
he is likely TO escape, unsling their
rifles and fire repeatedly at their in
tended victim who is making every
sndeavor to reach the friendly cover.
On, on, he comes, the bullets whist
ling around him yet without taking
effect
As his pursuers draw nearer. howey-
sr. their aim becomes more certain;
snJ. Just as he reaches the edge of the
timber. he receives wound in the leg
aud falls forward into the arms of the
DID scout ontstretched 10 receive him,
eho. sfter bearing him 10 a safe shell
Ter. selects a large tree and from IL
tf.endly cover watches the arproaca Of
he duskY warriors,
As they arrive within easy range OF